Seal connection



July 18, 1961 T. R. SMITH 2,992,843 SEAL CONNECTION Filed Sept. 6, 1956I o o o o o o o l/ O O O /5 O o I 38 l I a 3/ I 25 5/ ,flnvenlot Thomas42.51111 Ph Un d S tes. Paten Ofi ice 2,992,843 SEAL CONNECTION ThomasR. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 6, 1956, Set. 608,308 2 Claims. (Cl.286-'11) This invention relates to a novel construction for sealing andattaching a bellows sealing member to a second member. While notnecessarily limited to such a construction, this novel connection isprimarily concerned with an improvement in the fluid-tight attachment ofa nose ring to a flexible bellows member forming a fluidtight seal for arevoluble shaft which is encompassed by the bellows member and which isprovided with a shoulder defining a surface for the nose ring duringrelative rotation between the shaft and the bellows member.

Boot seals of this type are presently formed by vulcanizing or gluing orpermanently attaching in some way the nose ring to a flexible bellowsmember to achieve the desired strength and sealing characteristicsbetween the nose ring and the bellows member. With this present typeconstruction a damaged nose ring results in the entire boot sealassembly being scrapped even though the bellows sealing member itself isundamaged. In addition, the process of molding the nose ring to thebellows member is made more costly if, as is quite often the case, thenose piece breaks or cracks during the molding process.

With my novel construction the nose ring to be connected to the flexiblebellows member is formed separately from the bellows member and isprovided with an annular recess, preferably though not necessarily ofuniform cross section, to receive in compression a mating annular ringformed on the resilient bellows member. By utilizing the squeeze fitbetween the nose ring and the bellows member as well as additionallyrelying upon a compression spring within the bellows member to urgethese pieces'together, a readily separable, more economical, and simpleefiicient seal can be provided.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a washing machineincorporating my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the nose ring connection shownin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 showing the parts inassembled position; and,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 3 showing a secondembodiment of my invention.

Now with reference to the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 showsreference numeral representing the bottom wall of the non-rotatable tubadapted to receive fluid for the washing of clothes within tub 10 whilenumeral 11 represents the bottom wall of a revoluble perforate basketnested within tub 10 to perform a centrifuging operation during thespinning process of the washing operation. Within basket 11 is located aconventional type agitator 12 adapted to oscillate within basket 11 bymeans of its drive connection to agitator shaft 13 which is driven bydrive shaft 14 through appropriate motion converting mechanism housedwithin the gear housing 16.

The upper extension of gear casing 16 is threaded to receive a mountingstem 18 which is provided with a mounting flange 19 for basket 11.Basket 11 is supported on flange 19 and is wedged aganist gasket 20 onthat flange by means of a frusto-conical washer 21 mating substantiallywith the centrally located re-entrant portion of basket 11 which itabuts. Washer 21 in turn is wedged against the re-entrant portion ofbasket 11 by means of a large nut 22' threaded on the upper portion ofthe mounting stem 18. This, in effect, allows basket 11 to form aunitary connection with gear case 16 so that any movement imparted tothe latter member will be likewise imparted to basket 11.

The mounting flange 19, which in effect forms a shoulder on the upperextension of power housing 16, is provided with a depending annulus 23which provides a sealing surface frictionally engaged by the rigidannular nose ring 24 connected in turn to the flexible envelope orbellows member 25. Bellows member 25 is preferably made of resilientmaterial such as rubber and has its lower end fastened by means of hoseclamp 26 to the inturned flange 27 formed on the bottom wall of tub 10.Nose ring 24 is provided with a flat sealing surface which is maintainedagainst the lower face of the depending annulus 23 by means of the coilspring 28 located within the bellows member 25 and pressing against theopposite ends of that member.

Since nose ring 24 is in practice constructed of hard carbon material,the past practice of molding or vulcaniZin-g this ring to the bellowsmember 25 has caused a complete loss of the boot seal assembly formedfrom these parts whenever ring 24 cracked or was damaged in such a wayas to impair its scaling function with annulus 23. This permanent typemechanical and sealing connection has also proved unsatisfactory in themolding process where the carbon nose ring has been so hard and brittleas to be easily damaged in the molding operation itself.

The instant invention is therefore directed to that particular typemechanical and sealing connection which utilized parts which could bemade separately and fitted together to form a separable connection incase the carbon nose ring 24 became damaged prior to or even subsequentto the assembly of a machine incorporating this type bellows seal. Itshould be noted, however, that this invention need not be limited in useto the disclosed embodiment and may find other applications in use withdifferent materials.

With the construction shown clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3 of theaccompanying drawings, the carbon nose ring 24 is attached to and sealedto the boot seal bellows body 25 without experiencing nearly the lossesencountered in prior constructions. In this particular type constructionthe carbon nose ring 24 and bellows body 25 have been formed separatelyto accommodate interchangeable and replaceable assembly parts.

In FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the bellows body 25 is provided withan annular male projection 31 of a substantially circular cross sectionwhich protrudes upwardly from the top of the bellows body 25. The nosering 24 is in turn provided with an annular recess 32, preferably ofuniform cross section, forming a female portion to receive the maleprojection 31. It will be noticed from the accompanying drawings thatthe width of the recess or groove 32 formed in the nose ring 24 issomewhat smaller than the cross sectional diametric extent of the maleprojection 31 so that in assembling the male and female portions theprojecting male portion 31 must be forced into this recess 32 resultingin a compression of the male portion 31 within recess 32 to therebyprovide a connection which will not only hold nose ring 24 in place butone which will seal members 24 and 25 together as well. While this typeconnection provides a unique fluid-tight mechanical connection withoutrequiring that parts 24 and 25 be glued together, this constructionnaturally does not preclude the use of glue or other adhesives topermanently attach parts 24 and 25 together. It willbe seen in FIGURE 1that bellows member 25 is also urged into sealing relationship with nosering 24 by the force of coil spring :28 which Patented July is, 12 1.

holds nose ring 24 against annulus 23. Nose ring 24 is also urgedagainst annulus 23 by the resiliency of the bellows member itself.

FIGURE 4 shows a second embodiment of my invention in that the annulargroove for receiving male member 31 has been formed of a different crosssection. It will be seen in FIGURE 4 that the uniform cross section ofthe annular groove 35 formed in nose ring 36 is of inverted trapezoidalcross section to accommodate the expanding male projection 31 once ithas been forced into that annular groove 35. This second type ofconstruction provides a restricted neck portion in groove 35 and resultsin a better mechanical connection. It will be appreciated that otherequivalent modifications of groove 35 may be made to produce a similarresult. Except for the modification of groove 5 as set forth in FIGURE 4the second embodiment is identical to that shown in FIGURES l to 3.

While the male member 31 has been illustrated as being of circular crosssection only, it will be appreciated that equivalent modifications maybe made in that member without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising, a fluid container provided withan opening therein, a bellows member encompassing said opening andanchored to said container, revoluble shaft means extending through saidopening and said bellows member and provided with a shoulder defining aradial bearing surface facing said opening, a nose ring axially abuttingsaid bearing surface and forming a fluid-tight connection with saidbellows member, said connection including an annular resilient malemember of substantially circular cross section axially projecting fromsaid bellows member, a recess means axially facing said male member andformed in said nose ring defining an annular female portion of uniformcross section having at least a portion thereof of a smaller lateraldimension and having a greater axial dimension than that of said malemember to receive said resilient male member in radial compression onlyto form a readily separable fluid-tight connection between said nosering and said bellows member, and a spring member posi- 4 tioned withinsaid bellows member bearing against said bellows behind said male memberurging said nose ring against said bearing surface and resistingseparation of said male member from said recess.

2. An article of manufacture comprising, a fluid container provided withan opening therein, a flexible bellows member encompassing said openingand anchored to said container, revoluble shaft means extending throughsaid opening and said bellows member and provided with a shoulderdefining a bearing surface axially facing said opening, a substantiallyrigid member axially abutting said bearing surface and forming afluid-tight connection with said bellows member, said connectionincluding an annular resilient male member of substantially circularcross section axially projecting from said bellows member, a recessmeans openly facing said male member and formed in said rigid memberdefining an annular female portion having at least a portion thereof ofa smaller lateral dimension and having a greater axial dimension thanthat of said male member to receive said resilient male member in radialcompression only to form a readily separable fluid-tight connectionbetween said rigid member and said bellows member, and a resilientmember positioned within said bellows member bearing against saidbellows member behind said male member urging said rigid member axiallyagainst said bearing surface and resisting axial separation of said malemember from said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,189,197 Cerny Feb. 6, 1940 2,287,207 Vedovell June 23, 1942 2,294,517Smith Sept. 1, 1942 2,395,095 Brady Feb. 19, 1946 2,397,486 Hoertz Apr.2, 1946 2,469,065 Coss May 3, 1949 2,522,231 Loftis Sept. 12, 19502,610,871 Woodson Sept. 16, 1952 2,722,439 Brummer et a1 Nov. 1, 19552,766,944 Lockley et al. Oct. 16, 1956 2,815,967 Payne et a1. Dec. 10,1957

